Why Salivary Assessment?

Saliva specimens are less invasive than blood collection and can be collected in medical settings or non-medical settings, allowing for multiple collections at home, late night or early morning collections. In addition to allowing for collection of samples at times and in quantity to provide maximum information, samples such as saliva give information not easily tested for in blood.
Saliva levels of hormones reflect the free and active level of hormones while most blood measurements are the total level, including the bound and inactive fractions. It is the unbound or "free" amount of hormone, to which the cells of the body are exposed. The action of the unbound hormone on the body, and the interrelations between specific hormones is of the greatest clinical value.
Interrelations between specific hormones can be assessed through ratio analysis. Progesterone to estradiol ratio (P:E), DHEA to cortisol ratio (D:C) and Testosterone to estradiol ratio (T:E) are important examples of hormone interrelationship assessment.
Endocrine tissues have recognizable temporal patterns that reveal the functional capacity of the tissue being assessed. The monthly pattern of the menstrual cycle is well defined, with follicular, midcycle and luteal phases each presenting significant clinical information. Cortisol from the adrenal gland exhibits a circadian (daily) with levels highest in the morning and lowest at midnight. Other steroid hormones also exhibit circadian activity.
Pattern recognition and interpretation allow the functional capacity of endocrine tissues to be assessed. This proper assessment of the temporal pattern affords the clinician with clinically valid data that can be used for diagnostic purposes, for choosing therapeutic intervention, and for monitoring clinical efficacy of therapies.
Temporal pattern assessment and ratio interrelationship assessment is achieved through the use of endocrinology profiles and endocrinology MetaProfiles™.

Endocrinology Profiles

Profiles report the hormone levels of multiple samples and provide temporal pattern assessment and ratio interrelationship assessment of the specific tissue being assessed. Profiles are currently available for assessing adrenal, pineal, male gonadal, or female gonadal function.

  • Adrenocortex Stress Assessment
  • Menopause Assessment
  • Female Hormone Assessment
  • Male Hormone Assessment

Endocrinology MetaProfiles™

MetaProfiles™ are highly integrated comprehensive profiles offered exclusively through Saliva Testing And Reference laboratory, Inc. The MetaProfile combines the Adrenocortex Stress Assessment with the Female Hormone, Male Hormone or Menopause Assessment Profile. The interactions between adrenal, gonadal and pineal glands are assessed collectively in the interpretation to provide the clinician with an integrated portrait of endocrine function. Individual assessment of each gland is also provided in the interpretation.

  • Menopause MetaProfile™
  • Female Hormone MetaProfile™
  • Male Hormone MetaProfile™

© Copyright 1999 Saliva Testing And Reference laboratory, Inc.